Columbus Day weekend on The Coast brings with it perfectly-fall festivals, outdoor events and scenic tours. Stroll cobblestone byways and enjoy special deals at the annual Columbus Day sidewalk sale on Bowen's Wharf where you'll find great deals on unique items from area shops; or laugh the weekend away at Rogue Island Comedy Festival.
Our picks for the weekend are below.
COVID-19 NOTE:
When you're ready, we can't wait to welcome you back to The Classic Coast. Rest assured, the safety and well-being of both visitors and locals remains our top priority. The mask mandate requiring face coverings in Rhode Island has been lifted, however local businesses may ask you to wear a mask when visiting their establishments. Please be prepared for individual business mask policies. Additionally, shops, attractions and tours are monitoring the number of guests at any given time and may ask you to socially distance to enter.
All we ask when you land on these shores is that you play your part in keeping everyone safe. Please be kind, adhere to guidelines and maintain social distancing.
1 Rogue Island Comedy Festival
- Where:
- Throughout Aquidneck Island
- When:
- October 7 - 11
Celebrating its 27th Anniversary, Newport Festa Italiana has grown from its original weekend slate of events to a month-long calendar of opportunities for everyone to connect to their Italian roots. Events include John Panaggio Original Ziti Night, the 7th annual meatball challenge, Italian heritage parade, and of course, the highlight of the event: Festival in the Park.
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2 SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH OFF
Since 2000 Frerichs Farm has hosted the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Grower’s Annual Weigh-off on Columbus Day Weekend. Visit the farm and enjoy pumpkin palooza happening weekends through October, and catch the giant pumpkin drop-off and weighing.
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3 Columbus Day Sidewalk Sale
4 Goat Hikes at Simmons Farm
When nature calls (literally), head over to Simmons Farm in Middletown for a two-hour goat hike around the historic family-owned farm. Led by farmer Karla and her crew of adventurous, spirited goats, you'll get your own goat to walk on a leash along the designated trail. Stop along the way to feed your goat a treat and to take in stunning views of the preserved farmland, and conclude your journey with a cup of hot chocolate.
5 2021 Amica Newport Marathon
The 2021 Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 10 and feature all of the beauty and grandeur the City By The Sea has to offer. The Amica Newport Marathon was recently voted as having the "Best Half Marathon" and "Best Race Swag" in the Northeast by Competitor Magazine. The course winds through ocean-side roads, miles of waterfront views, and sweeping vistas of the grand mansions along Bellevue Avenue.
6 Simmons Farm Mozzarella and Cheese Making Class
Spend an afternoon learning the art of mozzarella cheese-making with Simmons Farm's resident cheese-maker, Karla Simmons. You'll learn how to make cheese curds, and stretch and form the curds into mozzarella. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to make homemade fresh butter using fresh-from-the-farm cream. Take a short break to sample some of the other cheeses the farm produces alongside local wine from Newport Vineyards, beers from RI's Revival Brewery or seltzers/sodas from RI's Yacht Club Soda. The class will wrap up when everybody has a delicious ball of mozzarella, a 1/4 lb. of butter and a gift bag containing a kit for you to make more mozzarella at home in a Simmons Farm tote bag.
outdoor fitness classes
ONGOING
PUMPKIN PALOOZA
When: Saturday and Sunday through October 31, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Frerichs Farm & Greenhouses
Frerichs Farm & Greenhouses is hosting Pumpkin Palooza every weekend through October 31 (closed on October 10) filled with family fun. Stroll through the holiday house, enjoy make your own scarecrows, paint a pumpkin and more.
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AUTUMN LEAVES MUSIC SERIES
When: Dates Vary
Where: Bowen's Wharf
Enjoy live performances on the waterfront throughout October. Local shops and restaurants at Bowen’s Wharf welcome you to join the tradition of local live music, waterfront dining, shopping, and crisp autumn air in Newport this Fall.
Note: All events are weather permitting and the schedule is subject to change.
FIRESIDE TOURS AT RAIL EXPLORERS
When: Through October
Where: Rail Explorers USA
Enjoy a pedal-powered ride along the Southern Circuit featuring small campfires spread out around with Rail Explorers. Bring your own marshmallows to enjoy while you savor twilight across the Narragansett Bay.
GHOST TOURS
When: Thursday - Monday in September & October, 8:00 PM; Saturdays in November, 5:00 PM
Where: Tour departs from Mainsail Restaurant at Newport Marriott
Admission: $20 adults, $18 seniors + military, $12 children
Peer past Newport's Gilded facade into the city's dark past on a 90-minute lantern-led evening stroll. You'll explore shadowy lanes with centuries of history and some of the area's most haunted sites including Jailhouse Inn—Newport's former jailhouse, the oldest tavern in America, Washington Square and more. Tours cover less than one mile and travel at a leisurely pace. Wheelchair accessible.
HARBOR CRUISES
When: Through mid-October
Where: Newport Harbor
Admission: Prices vary
There's something intoxicating about a fall harbor cruise—when the water remains warm but the air is newly crisp. Help raise the sails on a legendary America's Cup yacht, climb aboard an authentic lobster boat, spot seals lounging off the coast on an education vessel, or sip a mimosa on an 80-foot, turn-of-the-century-style pilot schooner.
ESCOBAR'S HIGHLAND FARM CORN MAZE
When: September 3 - November 7, Fridays - Sundays
Where: Escobar's Highland Farm
Admission: $10 ages 12 and up, $8 children 5-11, free for children under 4 (cash only)
Get lost in the 8-acre corn maze at Escobar's Highland Farm. Not to worry, they'll rescue you if you get lost.
HAYRIDES
When: Weekends in October
Where: Pachet Brook Tree Farm + Escobar's Highland Farm
Head to Pachet Brook Tree Farm, a 90-acre family-run farm in Tiverton, for a 30-minute hayride through the fields and woods decorated for the season, ending at the pumpkin patch. Hayrides are also offered at Escobar's Highland Farm in Middletown.
more to explore
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